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Five Ways to Nurture a Kid Inventor

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Companion article to Inventing: A Way to Help the World

 

“Be ye in that land vanguards of the perfections of humankind; carry forward the various branches of knowledge, be active and progressive in the field of inventions and the arts.”
—‘Abdu’l-Bahá

 

As parents and teachers, we want to prepare kids for lives that are happy and productive—to make the world a better place. One quality that will help both them and society is the ability to think critically. Learning to use the scientific method helps kids develop the ability to think critically in other aspects of life, in addition to supporting the discovery of scientific facts and theories. Closely related to the scientific method are the approaches used in inventing.

The present article is a companion to Inventing: A Way to Help the World. In that article, kids are encouraged to apply science and technology to develop useful inventions through an example of a young inventor, Alexis Lewis. The present article provides suggestions for you to help your kids or students explore the service of inventing.

 

The Scientific Method and Inventing


As you may know, the scientific method consists of three important steps: 

1) Observe phenomena (e.g., do experiments and make measurements);

2) Come up with a theory to explain what is observed;

3) Go back and repeat these steps over and over, to adapt the theory to new information.   
 

In science, supporting a theory with facts and data from observations is essential. The steps used when inventing are very similar to the scientific method: 

1) An invention idea is formed, usually from a need or problem that exists;

2) That idea is developed and a prototype is built and tested;

3) Depending on how the prototype worked in testing, these steps are repeated to improve the idea and prototype. 

 



Thinking through what works or doesn’t work, and understanding how to make improvements, are essential in both the scientific method and inventing. And these efforts strengthen the “muscle” of critical thinking as a wonderful byproduct. Alexis, the inventor in the companion article, says it’s important to “Reexamine your own assumptions and methods regarding a problem, or to look to others for a different set of assumptions and methods. Edison incorporated approaches from others working on electric lighting, and the Wright Brothers reconsidered the contemporary approach to control surfaces entirely. New perspectives beget new possibilities.”

 

Inventing and Multiple Intelligences


Inventing also has additional benefits in developing kids’ intellectual capacity. Harvard professor Howard Gardner has proposed that there are eight types of intelligence that humans have, to varying degrees, and which can be developed: Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Linguistic, Mathematical/Logical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic.    

A common assumption is that inventors use only their Mathematical/Logical intelligence (e.g., computing skills, problem-solving through logic). But many of the other aspects of intelligence come into play when inventing. Conceptualizing a device being invented exercises the spatial ability. Understanding how an invention will function in the world around us requires naturalistic intelligence. Working with others to develop an invention depends on Interpersonal skills. Building a working prototype requires bodily-kinesthetic abilities. And communicating to others what the invention does and “selling” its benefits combine both linguistic and interpersonal abilities. So the process of inventing—especially when taken all the way to building the invention—helps to develop these diverse types of intelligence. As Aristotle wrote, “What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.”


How You Can Help a Young Inventor

 

1) Encourage awareness of world events.

Alexis Lewis, as described in the companion article, invented a wheeled travois because she was motivated by current events—the famine in Somalia. So we should encourage kids to be aware of happenings in the world, the needs of others, and the service we can provide.


2) Help kids learn scientific basics.   

If your kid has an idea for a new mechanism, they need to understand Newton’s three laws of motion, simple machines, the concepts of work and energy, and so on. If they want to develop an electrical device, they first should learn about basic electrical theory, such as voltage, current, electrical circuits, and Ohm’s law. Helping kids find age-appropriate references in your library or online is an excellent way you can help them get started. Many science websites and books are geared to explaining such concepts to kids—try entering a search term in your browser and adding “for kids” (e.g., “laws of motion for kids”).


3) Nurture kids’ natural curiosity.

Parents and teachers have an important role in nurturing kids’ intellectual curiosity. From an early age, they should be exposed to activities and events that span the eight categories of intelligence mentioned above. But you may find that just spending time with them in normal daily activities also has significant benefit. Kids naturally question and are eager to learn from you, and from these questions you will better understand their interests and modes of learning.


4) Promote an experimental mindset.

The initial step of coming up with an invention idea may be easy, but the challenge in inventing comes when the thing you first try doesn’t work out. Not getting discouraged and giving up, reflecting on what didn’t work and why, and resolving to try again teach the most important lessons to the young inventor.

Alexis, the inventor in the companion article, says: “One important quality—and virtue—is persistence. It was integral to the work of Edison and the Wright Brothers for a reason. Another is less quantifiable; I would call it the willingness to approach a problem that many others have tried to solve, and try your unique hand at it. Perhaps you could call it confidence, but I prefer to think of it as an experimental mindset.”

As a parent or teacher, being a sounding board, a cheerleader, and a mentor will help the young inventor persevere through the setbacks that occur.


5) Help kids follow through to build what they conceive.

Finally, an important aspect of inventing is actually building the invention. Not all inventions have working prototypes—many of Leonardo Da Vinci’s inventions never made it past the sketch stage! But in my opinion, building the prototype is where the young inventor can learn the most. Here they can learn to work with other youth and with adult mentors to make an invention that works.

 

Alexis Lewis built a prototype of her wheeled travois.


Alexis has mentioned she received help from both of her parents, her grandfather, and even a steel fabrication company in developing her prototype. And if no family members have the skill to help or there is no workspace in the home where a prototype can be built, the rapidly expanding “Maker Community” is a resource for advice. MakerSpaces can provide the place and tools where inventors can work to build their invention. I am planning an upcoming article on MakerSpaces and the Maker Community that will provide more information—stay tuned!

 

Dr. Steve Scotti is Brilliant Star’s STEAMS Education Advisor and a Distinguished Research Associate at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia, U.S. His background is in developing lighter, stronger materials and structures for aircraft and spacecraft. Watching the first astronaut launched into space inspired his interest in space exploration, and he enjoys sharing his enthusiasm about science and space with kids, parents, and teachers.

Updated on 8.02.18